I haven't seen any RP2-based boards using the Raspberry Pi logo except on the microcontroller where it its presence is entirely acceptable.I have seen several which use the RP logo and actually claim to be RP
If you do see any boards which have the Raspberry Pi logo silk-screened on them I would expect Raspberry Pi would like to be notified so they can deal with any such 'passing off' and breach of trademark rules.
Some third-party RP2 board manufacturers do use the "Pico" designation which can be confusing but is also a legitimate and acceptable practice. As may be any display of the Raspberry Pi logo on product pages and in documentation though that may merit a case-by-case determination.
It's not necessarily "penny pinching" and IMO there's nothing automatically wrong with that if it is.... which make these penny pinching changes on the regulator.
You haven't identified exactly what you have but it wouldn't be fair to describe any RP2-based boards I have seen as "knock-off".These cheap knock-off boards ...
The ones I have seen are completely legitimate, using genuine Raspberry Pi microcontroller parts within their own circuit design. That is an entirely acceptable practice, ideal if the resulting product suits a user's needs and the manufacturing and assembly quality meets a user's expectations.
There may be issues with using LDO regulators - not working down to the lower voltages a buck-boost regulator may accept, not providing as much current on their 3V3 output, having increased heat with higher loads on 3V3, but they can also have advantages - supporting higher input voltages, supporting higher currents for 3V3.
For example, comparing an official Raspberry Pi Pico 2 with the Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 -
Code:
.--------------.--------------. | Pico 2 | Pico Plus 2 | .-------------. |--------------|--------------| | Voltage Reg | | RT6150B | AP7366EA | | Vin / VSYS | | 1V8-5V5 + | 3V5-6V0 | | Vin Abs Max | | 6V0 | 6V5 + | | Vout 3V3 mA | | 800mA + | 600mA | | 3V3 Enable | | Yes | Yes | `-------------' `--------------^--------------'
Statistics: Posted by hippy — Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:16 pm